{"id":1226,"date":"2019-03-25T19:43:50","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T02:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/?p=1226"},"modified":"2022-01-11T08:51:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T15:51:56","slug":"2019-season-preview-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/?p=1226","title":{"rendered":"2019 Season Preview:  Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a id=\"R5UiO_MNQNl4D_eoiz2fyA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1054042660\" target=\"_blank\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>\/\/ <![CDATA[\nwindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'R5UiO_MNQNl4D_eoiz2fyA',sig:'yHZUyEbfFKaMnTRBnL2TkjcbsTGkbFsfM2jouhid3UE=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1054042660',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><script src=\"\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\nThe second part of this 2019 DTBL season preview series will examine three teams that are projected to finish with nearly identical point totals, within a single point of each other.\u00a0 Two of the teams are slotted just a couple points ahead of the ninth place Cougars as well, so that means things are projected to be very tight in the bottom half of the standings.\u00a0 The previous post covered a pair of teams that finished in the top half of the standings a year ago.\u00a0 Meanwhile, this one covers two more teams in that situation.\u00a0 So for those of you scoring at home, that means that four of the five teams that will be projected to finish in the top half of the standings were among the teams that finished in the bottom half a year ago.\u00a0 And the lone team that is picked to remain in the bottom half would still consider this projection to be a pretty significant step forward.\u00a0 So I guess what I&#8217;m getting at is that 2019 may look nothing like 2018 in the DTBL.\u00a0 Here are the previews for the teams picked to finish in sixth and a tie for seventh places.<\/p>\n<h2>Charlie&#8217;s Thunder Choppers<\/h2>\n<p>Category &#8211; Projected Rank (2018 Rank)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Batting Average &#8211; 9th (4th)<\/li>\n<li>Home Runs &#8211; 9th (9th)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Batted In &#8211; 10th (8th)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Scored &#8211;\u00a010th (7th)<\/li>\n<li>Stolen Bases &#8211; 6th (3rd)<\/li>\n<li>Earned Run Average &#8211;\u00a03rd (4th)<\/li>\n<li>WHIP Ratio &#8211;\u00a02nd (6th)<\/li>\n<li>Wins &#8211;\u00a01st (3rd)<\/li>\n<li>Saves &#8211; 6th (2nd)<\/li>\n<li>Strike Outs &#8211; 5th (4th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Batting Points &#8211; 10th (7th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Pitching Points &#8211;\u00a02nd (3rd)<\/li>\n<li>Total Points &#8211; 7th-T (4th)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Summary:<\/p>\n<p>Last year marked the fifth time in six seasons that the Thunder Choppers finished in the top four of the league.\u00a0 However, once again, they weren&#8217;t able to keep pace with the league champion.\u00a0 Despite all of those high finishes, they&#8217;ve only come close to a title once in that stretch, finishing 2 1\/2 points out in 2016.\u00a0 It was a mediocre offense that held them back a year ago.\u00a0 Unfortunately, these projections show that being an issue again this season as they are tabbed to record the fewest batting points in the league.\u00a0 But there could be a little more upside this time around as they went heavier than usual on younger players with higher upsides in the draft.\u00a0 Anthony Rizzo and Whit Merrifield have strong offensive projections, but none of their other hitters jump off the page.\u00a0 New additions Miguel Andujar, Franmil Reyes and Willy Adames have intriguing potential though.\u00a0 And let&#8217;s not forget returning outfielder Byron Buxton, who was the top prospect in all of baseball just a few years ago.\u00a0 If he ever figures it out, he could be a fantasy superstar.\u00a0 The pitching staff was very good last year, but could be even better in 2019.\u00a0 Chris Sale is a perennial Cy Young contender.\u00a0 Trevor Bauer had a huge breakout a year ago and is their clear #2 now.\u00a0 Bauer&#8217;s Indians teammate Shane Bieber is the exciting new addition to the Choppers rotation.\u00a0 The bullpen could be excellent as well, but Craig Kimbrel is going to need to sign with a MLB team sooner than later to solidify the group.\u00a0 Otherwise, it will be Ken Giles and Jordan Hicks leading the way.\u00a0 One fallback plan if Kimbrel never gets a job will be Corbin Burnes, who can continue the Choppers tradition of having a starting pitcher accumulating stats from a relief pitching slot, something these projections don&#8217;t really take into account.\u00a0 A seventh place finish would be disappointing for the Choppers.\u00a0 If their offense is better than prognosticated, they will likely finish in the top half of the standings once again.<\/p>\n<h2>David&#8217;s Darkhorses<\/h2>\n<p>Category &#8211; Projected Rank (2018 Rank)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Batting Average &#8211; 1st (2nd)<\/li>\n<li>Home Runs &#8211; 6th (2nd)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Batted In &#8211; 5th (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Scored &#8211;\u00a01st (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Stolen Bases &#8211; 8th (4th)<\/li>\n<li>Earned Run Average &#8211;\u00a08th (6th)<\/li>\n<li>WHIP Ratio &#8211;\u00a010th (4th)<\/li>\n<li>Wins &#8211; 10th (9th)<\/li>\n<li>Saves &#8211;\u00a05th (8th)<\/li>\n<li>Strike Outs &#8211; 7th (3rd)<\/li>\n<li>Total Batting Points &#8211; 3rd (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Total Pitching Points &#8211;\u00a010th (7th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Points &#8211; 7th-T (2nd)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Summary:<\/p>\n<p>Of the four teams projected to drop from the top to bottom half of the league this season, the Darkhorses would be the biggest disappointment if this actually came to pass.\u00a0 They put a serious scare into the Kings down the stretch last season before falling a little short.\u00a0 Had the pitching staff been a little more productive, they would have won the league.\u00a0 But they are now projected to have the worst pitching staff in the league.\u00a0 The numbers are dragged down a bit by a couple of their surplus Braves starters who don&#8217;t figure to be regulars in the rotation though.\u00a0 Speaking of Braves starters, they have four of them.\u00a0 First round pick Mike Foltynewicz will be the key to ensuring they don&#8217;t have the worst staff in the league.\u00a0 He will slot in behind Jacob deGrom, who once again should be one of the best pitchers in the league.\u00a0 A little more win luck for him would be helpful as well.\u00a0 The projections aren&#8217;t quite as optimistic about Patrick Corbin or Jose Berrios, but the talent is there for this to be a pretty good staff.\u00a0 With Corey Knebel&#8217;s health a huge concern, they may have trouble racking up the saves.\u00a0 Brad Hand is the only safe bet to be a significant save accumulator.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the offense should remain one of the best in the league.\u00a0 They have seven hitters projected for 3+ PAR, tied for the most in the league.\u00a0 Those seven:\u00a0 Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman, Daniel Murphy, Xander Boagarts, Bryce Harper, George Springer and Christian Yelich.\u00a0 And that doesn&#8217;t even include J.T. Realmuto, who may be the best catcher in the league.\u00a0 They could benefit from some positive home ballpark changes among those guys too, namely Harper, Realmuto and Murphy.\u00a0 This is a very deep offensive unit.\u00a0 Whether or not you believe the Darkhorses will compete for the title, or finish close to these projections instead largely depends on what you expect from their pitching staff.\u00a0 If better than advertised, they will be a dangerous team once again.<\/p>\n<h2>Kat&#8217;s Komodos<\/h2>\n<p>Category &#8211; Projected Rank (2018 Rank)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Batting Average &#8211; 6th (7th)<\/li>\n<li>Home Runs &#8211; 7th (5th)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Batted In &#8211; 9th (5th)<\/li>\n<li>Runs Scored &#8211; 4th (6th)<\/li>\n<li>Stolen Bases &#8211;\u00a01st (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Earned Run Average &#8211;\u00a010th (10th)<\/li>\n<li>WHIP Ratio &#8211;\u00a06th (10th)<\/li>\n<li>Wins &#8211;\u00a03rd (5th)<\/li>\n<li>Saves &#8211;\u00a08th (9th)<\/li>\n<li>Strike Outs &#8211; 6th (8th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Batting Points &#8211; 5th (4th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Pitching Points &#8211;\u00a06th-T (9th)<\/li>\n<li>Total Points &#8211; 6th (9th)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Summary:<\/p>\n<p>Finally, we come to our first team that did not finish in the top half of the standings last season.\u00a0 But this projection also shows what would be a significant change in fortune for a Komodos squad that finished ninth a year ago.\u00a0 Perhaps hidden a bit by the overall place of finish was just how solid of an offensive core this team has already assembled.\u00a0 The 31 batting points they earned in 2018 was more than the Gators franchise they inherited had accumulated in any season since 2008.\u00a0 Since their focus was almost exclusively on pitching in the early rounds of the draft, this is basically the same offensive team as a year ago, led by Jose Ramirez, Cody Bellinger and Starling Marte.\u00a0 Two other guys who don&#8217;t receive a ton of attention when focusing on the best players in MLB, but who are fantasy studs are Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo.\u00a0 This team&#8217;s most glaring strength is their speed.\u00a0 Marte, Ramirez, Dee Gordon and Mallex Smith should give the Komodos a great chance of winning the stolen base category once again.\u00a0 The main reason for optimism that 2019 will be a huge step forward for this franchise is the seemingly improved pitching staff.\u00a0 The second overall pick in the draft, Walker Buehler gives them a potential ace, which they simply did not have last year.\u00a0 The rest of the rotation is filled with steady, solid veterans in David Price, J.A. Happ, Rich Hill and Jose Quintana.\u00a0 At first glance, the bullpen doesn&#8217;t look great with only Aroldis Chapman and Kirby Yates entrenched as closers.\u00a0 But Collin McHugh is another potential stat accumulator as a starter in a relief slot.\u00a0 These projections show the Komodos improving to sixth in the league in pitching points and sixth overall.\u00a0 Those would be massive improvements over a year ago.\u00a0 There are plenty of reasons for the Komodos to be optimistic about their second season in the DTBL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images The second part of this 2019 DTBL season preview series will examine three teams that are projected to finish with nearly identical point totals, within a single point of each other.\u00a0 Two of the teams are slotted just a couple points ahead of the ninth place Cougars as well, so that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,11,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-choppers","category-darkhorses","category-komodos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1226"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1230,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1226\/revisions\/1230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1226"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1226"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamteambaseball.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}